Known globally for his business achievements, in West Michigan his millions in charitable giving and community leadership were equally appreciated.

DeVos was instrumental in the revitalization of Grand Rapids. He has had a major influence on health, education and the arts in the community, including life-saving programs at Spectrum Health, the growth of Grand Valley State, and enhancing the Grand Rapids Symphony.

The community is mourning the loss of a man who has left an indelible mark on the city and region. He is survived by his four children, 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Two public visitation times are scheduled for the public to pay their respects prior to the funeral on Wednesday, Sept 12, at the Amway Grand Plaza's Ambassador Ballroom: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and 4 to 8 p.m.

The late Jay Van Andel and Rich DeVos, co-founders of Amway, in front of the Center for Free Enterprise building, which now serves as Amway's world headquarters in Ada.

They grew a business that started in the basement of the DeVos home in 1959 into a global company that operates in more than 100 countries and territories. It is of one of the world's largest direct selling businesses.

A world-wide leader in health, beauty, and other products, the company employs 21,000, including 4,000 in West Michigan.

In February, Amway announced sales of $8.6 billion USD for the year ending Dec. 31, 2017. Rich DeVos was Amway's president until 1993, when he was succeeded by his son, Dick, but his son Doug DeVos, has been president of the company since 2002.

Spectrum Health

Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat

Spectrum Health

Rich DeVos has left a large imprint on health care in Grand Rapids, particularly with the life-saving programs at Spectrum Health.

Spectrum has a rising transplant program: significant private donations and the availability of donor organs.

DeVos and his wife, Helen, provided the money to launch Spectrum's Richard DeVos Heart & Lung Transplant Program, including an endowment to pay the salary of Dr. Asghar Khaghaniover, the renowned surgeon on the U.K. transplant team that gave Rich DeVos a new heart in 1997.

Less than a decade ago, West Michigan patients who needed those transplants were referred to the University of Michigan's Medical Center in Ann Arbor or to hospitals outside the state. Today, patients across Michigan and beyond are being referred to Spectrum Health.

Grand Valley State University biggest donor

MLive File Photo

Grand Valley State University biggest donor

Rich DeVos saw Grand Valley State University as a community asset and invested throughout the years. He has been the university's largest donor. DeVos recognized the university needed to expand beyond its Allendale campus to have a downtown Grand Rapids presence. The scope of his giving and that of the family spans decades. Here are just few examples of the support for GVSU:

DeVos and his wife, Helen, were the lead donors on the $52.3 million Richard M. DeVos Center - the flagship building on the Grand Rapids campus that opened in 2000.

Rich DeVos's foundation was the co-lead donor on the $52.3 million Cook DeVos Center for Health Sciences, which opened in downtown Grand Rapids in 2003.

DeVos was the lead donor for the $42.6 million L. William Seidman Center in downtown Grand Rapids that opened in August 2013.

"There are no words to describe how much Rich DeVos will be missed by Marcia and me personally, our university, and the entire West Michigan community," said Grand Valley President Thomas J. Haas.

"Rich gave so much of himself to Grand Valley. His enthusiasm and vision were contagious, and drew the entire community together to help provide a world-class education to West Michigan citizens. The university would not be what it is today without his and Helen's leadership and generosity. His legacy lives on in the lives of the thousands of students he has touched. Our hearts are with the DeVos family at this time."

Lifetime of giving

Courtesy of DeVos family

Lifetime of giving

In 2016, the DeVos family for the first time revealed the totality of its philanthropy: $1.2 billion in lifetime giving.

That's what the family foundations reported to Forbes, which revealed that total and what the DeVoses gave in 2014, $94 million, ranking the family 20th on its annual Top 50 givers list.

The bulk of those funds - $60 million or 66 percent- was given to Michigan organizations with the majority staying in the greater Grand Rapids area.

The DeVoses have five family foundations, the late Rich and Helen DeVos have had the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation. And each of their four children and spouses have one: the Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation, the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, the (Cheri DeVos) CDV5 Foundation, and the Douglas and Maria DeVos Foundation.